1. May 16, 2012 CFTC and SEC: Joint Final Rule Defining Dealers and Major
Participants
Financial Services Client Alert
On April 27, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures
This Alert provides only Trading Commission (CFTC) released their joint final rule defining “Swap Dealer”, “Security-
general information and
Based Swap Dealer”, “Major Swap Participant”, “Major Security-Based Swap Participant”,
and “Eligible Contract Participant” (ECP) (collectively, the Final Rule). The Final Rule is the
should not be relied upon as result of a long and contentious debate between the SEC, the CFTC, and the financial
legal advice. This Alert may services industry regarding the appropriate scope for each definition. Further, although the
be considered attorney rule is final, there continues to be some uncertainty surrounding the Rule, and particularly, its
application in conjunction with the yet-to-be-finalized definition of a “swap” and other related
advertising under court and
products.
bar rules in certain
jurisdictions. In this Alert, we provide you with a brief analysis of the joint final rule. The Patton Boggs
Financial Services Group is closely tracking developments related to the Dodd-Frank Act
regulatory rulemakings. Further information on the legislation is available by contacting
For more information, contact
Micah Green at msgreen@pattonboggs.com.
your Patton Boggs LLP
attorney or the authors listed Swap Dealers and Security-Based Swap Dealers
below.
i. Summary of Security-Based Swap Dealer Rule
Michael Dunn
mvdunn@pattonboggs.com
The Dodd-Frank Act definitions of the terms “swap dealer” and “security-based dealer” focus
on whether a person engages in particular types of activities involving swaps or security-
Micah Green based swaps (SBS)1. The definitions encompass persons that engage in any of the following
msgreen@pattonboggs.com types of activity: (1) holding oneself out as a dealer in swaps or SBS; (2) making a market in
swaps or SBS; (3) regularly entering into swaps or SBS with counterparties as an ordinary
Carolyn Walsh course of business for one’s own account; or (4) engaging in any activity causing oneself to
cwalsh@pattonboggs.com
be commonly known in the trade as a dealer or market maker in swaps or SBS. Persons that
Mara Giorgio meet any of those definitions are subject to statutory requirements related to, among other
mgiorgio@pattonboggs.com things, registration, margin, capital, and business conduct. The statutory dealer definitions
provide for certain exceptions, including the following: (i) a person that enters into swaps or
Grace Kim SBS for the person’s own account, either individually or in a fiduciary capacity, but not as a
gkim@pattonboggs.com part of a “regular business;”2 (ii) a person that “engages in a de minimis quantity of [swap or
SBS] dealing in connection with transactions with or on behalf of its customers;”3 (iii) an
WWW.PATTONBOGGS.COM insured depository institution “to the extent it offers to enter into a swap with a customer in
connection with originating a loan with that customer.”4 Finally, the definitions also provide
that a person may be designated as a dealer for one or more types, classes or categories of
swaps or SBS, or activities, without being designated a dealer for other types, classes,
categories or activities. The Commissions explain that the exclusions from the dealer
definitions depend on whether a person engages in certain types of swap or SBS activity, not
on other characteristics of the person.
The Commissions also adopted a final rule to define “security-based swap dealer.” In
determining whether the “security-based swap dealer” designation applies to a party, the
Commissions note that they should consider the relevant facts and circumstances, as well as
elements of the dealer-trader distinction within the Exchange Act, which provide a framework
for interpreting the meaning of “security-based swap dealer.”5 If a person determines that it

2. is engaged in SBS dealing activity based on an analysis of the four statutory tests and
applicable interpretive guidance, the next analytical step is to determine whether the person
is engaged in more than a de minimis quantity of SBS dealing. If such person is engaged in
more than a de minimis quantity of SBS dealing, it must register as a SBS dealer.
Principles for Applying the Dealer-Trader Distinction to SBS Activity
The Commissions provide the following factors for identifying SBS dealers and for
distinguishing such dealers from other market participants: (1) providing liquidity to market
professionals or other persons in connection with SBS; (2) seeking to profit by providing
liquidity in connection with SBS; (3) providing advice in connection with SBS or structuring
SBS; (4) presence of regular clientele and actively soliciting clients; (5) use of inter-dealer
brokers; and (6) acting as a market maker on an organized SBS exchange or trading system.
The Commissions note, however, that the determination of whether a person is acting as a
SBS dealer depends on the relevant facts and circumstances of a person’s overall activities
in the SBS market, and the lack of one or more factors does not mean that a person is not a
SBS dealer.
The Commissions state that a market participant may provide liquidity to other persons in
connection with SBS by accommodating demand or facilitating interest expressed by other
market participants, holding itself out as willing to enter into SBS, being known in the industry
as being available to accommodate demand for SBS, or maintaining a sales force in
connection with SBS activities. Further, the Commissions note that a market participant may
seek to profit by providing liquidity in connection with SBS by seeking compensation in
connection with providing liquidity, including seeking a spread, fees, or other compensation
not attributable to changes in the value of the SBS. The Commissions also note that a
market participant does not necessarily need to be available to take either side of the market
at any time, or continuously engage in this type of activity, in order to be a SBS dealer.
In terms of advice provided, the Commissions note that advising a counterparty as to how to
use SBS to meet the counterparty’s hedging goals, or structuring SBS on behalf of a
counterparty, would indicate SBS dealing activity. Further, the Commissions state that the
presence of regular clientele and actively soliciting clients indicate a business model that
seeks to profit by providing liquidity, and the use of an inter-dealer broker indicates a person’s
status as a dealer. Finally, the Commissions note that acting in a market maker capacity on
an organized exchange or trading system for SBS would indicate that the person is acting as
a dealer.
Additional Interpretive Guidance Related to the “Security-Based Swap Dealer” Definition
The Commissions note that the SBS dealer analysis should not depend upon whether a
person’s dealing activity constitutes its sole or predominant business, but the separate de
minimis exemption may excuse from dealer regulation those persons whose SBS dealing
activities are relatively modest. In terms of the presence or absence of a customer
relationship in SBS activities, the Commissions state that, to the extent that a person
regularly enters into SBS to seek profit by providing liquidity, rather than by taking directional
positions, that person may be a SBS dealer regardless of whether it views itself as
maintaining a “customer” relationship with its counterparties. For example, the Commissions
state that a person’s activity involving entering into SBS on a swap execution facility (SEF)
may cause the person to be considered as an SBS dealer even in the absence of a customer
relationship with any of the person’s counterparties.
The Commissions articulate several activities that could constitute “holding oneself out as a
dealer” or being “commonly known in trade as a dealer:” (1) contacting potential
counterparties to solicit interest; (2) developing new types of swaps or SBS and informing

3. potential counterparties of their availability and of the person’s willingness to enter into the
swap or SBS; (3) membership in a swap association in a category reserved for dealers; (4)
providing marketing materials describing the type of swaps or SBS the party is willing to enter
into; and (5) generally expressing a willingness to offer or provide a range of products or
services that include swaps or SBS. The Commissions explain, however, that these activities
must be considered within the context of whether a person engages in the activities with the
purpose of facilitating dealing activity. Note that any of these activities by themselves would
not necessarily indicate that a person is acting as a SBS dealer. Rather, under certain
circumstances, the Commissions believe these activities may indicate a business purpose of
seeking to profit by providing liquidity in connection with SBS.
ii. Summary of “Swap Dealer” Rule
Similar to the definition of “security-based swap dealer,” the Commissions adopted a
definition for the term “swap dealer” in terms of the four statutory tests discussed above and
the exclusion for SBS activities that are not part of “a regular business.” The analytical
methodology employed with respect to the “security-based swap dealer” Final Rule is similar
to the process for determining whether the “swap dealer” designation applies to a person. In
other words, if a person determines that it is engaged in swap dealing activity based on an
analysis of the four statutory tests and applicable interpretive guidance, the next step is to
determine if the person is engaged in more than a de minimis quantity of swap dealing. If
such person is engaged in more than a de minimis quantity of swap dealing, that person must
register as a swap dealer. The Commissions also note that the elements of the dealer-trader
distinction within the Exchange Act provide a framework for interpreting the meaning of
“security-based swap” dealer and, therefore, the elements of the dealer-trader distinction, as
discussed above, are relevant factors for indicating whether a person is acting as a swap
dealer.
Further, the Commissions also identify the same potential indicia of “holding oneself out as a
dealer in swaps” and “engaging in any activity causing oneself to be commonly known in the
trade as a dealer or market maker in swaps” as applicable to swap dealers as with SBS
dealers. The Commissions state that the potential indicia should not be considered in a
vacuum, rather should be considered in the context of all the activities of the swap participant,
and note that they are not per se conclusive and could be countered by other factors
indicating that the person is not a swap dealer.
Though the definitions of the terms “swap dealer” and “security-based swap dealer” are
substantially similar, interpretations regarding the application of the definitions differ in certain
respects given the differences in the uses of and markets for swaps and SBS. The following
discussion addresses the separate interpretive guidance provided by the Commissions with
respect to the “swap dealer” final rule.
Market Making
The Commissions describe making a market in swaps as routinely standing ready to enter
into swaps at the request or demand of a counterparty6. Activities indicative of whether a
person is routinely standing ready to enter into swaps at the request or demand of a
counterparty include routinely: (1) quoting bid or offer prices, rates, or other financial terms for
swaps on an exchange; (2) responding to requests made directly, or indirectly through an
interdealer broker, by potential counterparties for bid or offer prices, rates, or other similar
terms for bilaterally negotiated swaps; (3) placing limit orders for swaps; or (4) receiving
compensation for acting in a market maker capacity on an organized exchange or trading
system for swaps. The Commissions note that the examples are not exhaustive and other
activities may also indicate making a market in swaps.

4. The Commissions state that given that the dealer-trader distinction of seeking profit by
providing liquidity to the market is indicative of dealer activity, if a person is seeking
compensation for providing liquidity, compensation through spreads or fees, or other
compensation not attributable to changes in the value of the swaps it enters into, such activity
would be indicative of market making. Further, the Commissions explain that a person
making a one-way market in swaps may be a maker of a market in swaps if, for example, a
person routinely stands ready to enter into swaps on a particular side of the market while
entering into transactions on the other side of the market in other instruments. In other
words, the indicator of market maker status is a person’s willingness to routinely stand ready
to enter into swaps at the request or demand of a counterparty, as opposed to entering into
swaps to accommodate one’s own demand or desire to participate in a particular market,
regardless of whether it is on one or both sides of the market, or whether the parties meet on
a disclosed basis through bilateral negotiations or anonymously through an exchange, and
then to enter into offsetting positions.
Exception for Activities Not Part of a “Regular Business”
The statutory dealer definitions provide for certain exceptions, including a person that enters
into swaps or SBS for the person’s own account, either individually or in a fiduciary capacity,
but not as a part of a “regular business.”7 The Commissions state that, for the purposes of
the definition of “swap dealer,” the phrase a “regular business” focuses on activities of a
person that are usual and normal in the person’s course of business and identifiable as a
swap dealing business.
The Commissions provide that any of the following activities would generally constitute
entering into a swap “as part of a regular business:” (1) entering into swaps with the purpose
of satisfying the business or risk management needs of the counterparty (as opposed to
entering into swaps to accommodate one’s own demand or desire to participate in a particular
market); (2) maintaining a separate profit and loss statement reflecting the results of swap
activity or treating swap activity as a separate profit center; or (3) having staff and resources
allocated to dealer-type activities with counterparties, including activities relating to credit
analysis, customer onboarding, document negotiation, confirmation generation, requests for
novations and amendments, exposure monitoring and collateral calls, covenant monitoring,
and reconciliation.
iii. De Minimis Exception
The Dodd-Frank Act’s definitions of “swap dealer” and “security-based swap dealer” require
that the Commissions exempt from dealer designation any entity “that engages in a de
minimis quantity” of dealing “in connection with transactions with or on behalf of customers.”
The Commissions note that, while they have sought to balance the various interests
associated with a de minimis exception, as well as the benefits and burdens associated with
the exception8, more available information following the full implementation of Title VII will
permit the Commissions to assess and revise the exception as appropriate.
The Commissions explain that the de minimis exception takes into account the notional
amount of an entity’s swap or SBS positions over the prior 12 months arising from its dealing
activity9. Specifically, this notional test will be based on a person’s dealing activity for the first
year following the effective date of the final rules implementing the statutory definition of
“swap” and “security-based swap,”10 which is yet to be determined.11 The Commissions
explain that, in developing the final rule, they considered data regarding the SBS market, data
regarding the activity of participants in the single-name credit-default swap (CDS) market,
and the comparative amount of SBS dealing activity that could be excluded from dealer
regulation as a result of the exception.

5. De Minimis Exception to “Security-Based Swap Dealer” Definition
The Commissions state that the final rule caps dealing activity involving SBS that are CDS at
$3 billion in notional amount over the prior 12 months.12 In formulating this threshold, the
Commissions state that the currently available data regarding the single-name CDS market
indicates that a notional threshold of $3 billion would be expected to result in the regulation of
persons responsible for the vast majority of dealing activity within such market.
The final rules also provide for a phase-in period for dealing activity involving CDS that
constitute SBS. In particular, persons with notional dealing activity of $8 billion or less over
the prior 12 months involving CDS that constitute SBS would not be subject to the generally
applicable compliance date that occurs no later than 60 days following publication of these
final rules in the Federal Register. The Commission notes, however, that market participants
will not necessarily be SBS dealers at the end of the 60-day compliance period because the
de minimis analysis would only address SBS dealing activity following the effective date of
the final rules implementing the definition of “security-based swap” pursuant to the Exchange
Act section 3(a)(68). In other words, until the rules defining “security-based swap” are
effective, no market participant would be deemed to be a SBS dealer.
The Commissions note that the phase-in period will: (1) provide the SEC with additional time
to study the SBS market, as it evolves in the new regulatory framework; (2) allow potential
dealers that engage in relatively smaller amounts of activity additional time to adjust their
business practices; and (3) preserve the focus of the regulation on the largest and most
significant dealers. Further, the Commissions state that SEC staff will draft a report
considering, in part, the operation of the de minimis exception following the full
implementation of section 15 under Title VII, pertaining to the registration and regulation of
SBS dealers and major SBS participants. The Commissions state that the SEC will consider
this report, as well as public comments on the report, in determining whether to propose any
changes to the rule implementing the de minimis exception, including any increases or
decreases to the $3 billion threshold.
The final rule provides that the phase-in period will continue until the “phase-in termination
date,” which the SEC will publish on its website and in the Federal Register. Specifically,
nine months following the publication of the SEC report, the SEC may either: (1) terminate
the phase-in period and by order establish and publish the phase-in termination date; or (2)
determine that it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest to propose an alternative de
minimis threshold, in which case the SEC would provide notice of that determination and
establish the phase-in termination date. If the SEC does not establish the phase-in
termination date in either of these ways, the phase-in termination date will automatically occur
five years following the data collection initiation date.13
For other types of SBS, including single-name or narrow-based equity swaps or total return
swaps, the exception caps an unregistered person’s dealing activity at $150 million in notional
amount over the prior 12 months. A phase-in period will be available for persons whose
dealing activity involving such instruments is $400 million or less in notional amount over the
prior 12 months. The Commissions note that this phase-in period will be subject to the same
provisions regarding the termination of the phase-in period as applied in connection with
CDS.
Importantly, the final rule caps an unregistered person’s SBS dealing activity involving
counterparties that are “special entities” at $25 million in notional amount over the prior 12
months14, and the Commissions state that no phase-in period will apply to transactions
involving special entities. The Commissions note that they will consider whether to lower the
threshold even further for transactions involving special entities.

6. De Minimis Exception to “Swap Dealer” Definition
Similar to the definition of “security-based swap dealer,” the Final Rule implementing the de
minimis exception caps dealing activity involving swaps at $3 billion in notional amount over
the prior 12 months. The Commissions note that the notional analysis would only address
activity following the effective date of the rules implementing the definition of “swap.” For
swaps in which the counterparty is a “special entity,” the Final Rule sets the notional
threshold at $25 million over the prior 12 months. As with the definition of the “security-based
swap dealer,” the swap dealer definition also provides for a phase-in period for swap dealing
activity during which the threshold is set at a gross notional value of $8 billion. The
Commissions state that, in terms of swaps with special entities, a $25 million gross notional
value threshold will apply during the phase-in period.
The Commissions explain that CFTC staff will draft reports regarding the swap dealer
definition during the phase-in period to consider, in part, market data on swap dealing activity
over a period of approximately two years, as well as any resulting changes in swap dealing
activity by dealers above and below the $8 billion phase-in threshold, and above and below
the $3 billion level applicable after the phase-in period. The report is required to be
completed by CFTC staff no later than 30 months following the date that a swap data
repository receives swap data pursuant to the CFTC’s reporting regulations and the report will
be published for public comment.15 The Commissions add that the CFTC will consider the
report and any associated public comments in determining whether to propose any changes
to the de minimis exception at the end of the phase-in period.16
The Final Rule provides that the phase-in period will continue until the “phase-in termination
date.” Specifically, nine months following the publication of the CFTC report, the CFTC may
either: (1) terminate the phase-in period by order; or (2) propose an alternative de minimis
threshold for public comment, in which case the CFTC would also issue an order establishing
the phase-in termination date. The Commissions note that the final rules include a finality
provision, stating that the phase-in period will end no later than five years after the date that a
swap data repository first receives swap data under the CFTC’s regulations.
Registration Period for Entities that Exceed the De Minimis Factors
According to the Final Rule, if an entity that has relied on the de minimis exception is no
longer able to rely on the exception because its dealing activity exceeds a relevant threshold,
the entity will have two months—following the end of the month in which it no longer is able to
take advantage of the exception—to submit a completed application to register as a swap
dealer or SBS dealer. Further, the Final Rule states that a person registered as a swap
dealer or SBS dealer may apply to withdraw that registration, while continuing to engage in a
limited amount of dealing activity in reliance on the de minimis exception, if that person has
been registered as a dealer for at least 12 months.17 The Commissions also note that, unlike
the major participant definitions discussed below, the Final Rule implementing the de minimis
exception does not provide for a reevaluation period for entities engaging in a level of dealing
activity above the de minimis thresholds.18
iv. Limited Purpose Designation as a Dealer
The definitions of the terms “swap dealer” and “security-based swap dealer” provide that the
Commissions may designate a person as a dealer for a particular type, class or category of
swap or SBS, or specified swap or SBS activities, without the person being considered a
dealer for other types, classes, categories, or activities. Though a person may apply for a
limited designation when submitting a registration application, or at a later time, the
Commissions note that the Final Rule presumes that a person who satisfies one of the dealer
definitions will be considered a dealer for all of its swaps or SBS activities, unless the CFTC

7. or SEC exercises its authority to limit the person’s designation as a dealer to specified
categories of swaps or SBS or specified activities.
The Commissions will consider limited purpose applications on an individual basis and
analyze the unique circumstances of each applicant. Regardless of the type of limited
designation being requested, however, the Commissions will not designate a person as a
limited purpose dealer unless the person can demonstrate that they can fully comply with the
requirements applicable to dealers in the context of a limited designation.
Major Swap Participants and Major Security-Based Swap Participants
i. Summary of Major Participant Rule
Unlike the dealer definition, which focuses on the person’s activities and the amount or
significance of the same, the major participant definition focuses on the major market impacts
and risks associated with a person’s swap or SBS positions. The statutory tests defining a
major participant (and not a dealer) encompass a person: (1) that maintains a “substantial
position” in swaps or SBS for any of the major swap categories as determined by the
Commissions; (2) whose outstanding swaps or SBS create substantial counterparty exposure
that could have serious adverse effects on the financial stability of the U.S. banking system or
financial markets; or (3) that is a “financial entity” that is “highly leveraged” relative to the
amount of capital it holds (and that is not subject to capital requirements under a federal
agency) and maintains a “substantial position” in outstanding swaps or SBS in any major
category as determined by the Commissions.
The first statutory test excludes: (1) positions held for “hedging or mitigating commercial risk,”
and (2) positions maintained by any employee benefit plan as defined by ERISA. The
statutory tests also allow for the limited designation of a person as a major participant in
certain categories of swaps or SBS, but not others.
ii. First Test for Designating Major Participants
“Major” Categories
The final rule establishes 4 major categories of swaps: (1) rate swaps, (2) credit swaps, (3)
equity swaps, and (4) other commodity swaps. Rate swaps include swaps primarily based on
one or more reference rate. Credit swaps include swaps primarily based on default,
bankruptcy and other credit-related risks. Equity swaps include swaps primarily based on
equity securities. Other commodity swaps include any swap not included in the other three
categories, for which the primary underlying item is a physical commodity or any other aspect
of the same.
The final rule also establishes 2 major categories of SBS: (1) SBS based, in whole or in part,
on one or more instruments of indebtedness, or a credit event relating to one or more issuers
or securities (i.e. CDS or debt swaps), and (2) any other SBS not included in the first
category, including swaps on equity securities.
“Substantial Position”
Under the rule, a person would have a “substantial position” in swaps and SBS if: (1) the daily
average current uncollateralized exposure associated with its swap or SBS positions in a
major category (as described above) in a calendar quarter amounted to $1 billion or more (or
$3 billion for rate swaps), or (2) the daily average of the sum of the current uncollateralized
exposure plus the potential future exposure19 associated with its positions in a major
category in a calendar quarter amounted to $2 billion or more (or $6 billion for rate swaps).

8. Additionally, the rule provides that the method used for calculating current exposure or
valuing collateral posted should be consistent with counterparty practices and industry
practices, including accounting for netting agreements on a counterparty-by-counterparty
basis.
The major participant definition focuses on the default-related risk resulting from a person’s
swap or SBS positions. As such, the definition emphasizes aggregate risk over concentration
and interconnection principles. In calculating the aggregate current uncollateralized
exposure,20 the person would (1) examine the positions it maintains with each counterparty,
determining the dollar value of the aggregate current exposure arising from each of its swap
or SBS positions with negative value in that major category by marking-to-market using
industry standard practices, and (2) deduct from that amount the aggregate value of the
collateral the entity has posted with respect to the swap or SBS positions. Further, the
uncollateralized exposure attributable to a major category will be allocated pro rata.21
The potential future exposure calculation estimates how much the value of swaps or SBS
might change against an entity over the remaining life of the contract. The calculation of
potential future exposure excludes the purchase of options and other positions for which a
person has prepaid or otherwise satisfied payment obligations. The potential future exposure
is calculated by multiplying the total notional principal amount of the person’s swap or SBS
positions by specified risk factor percentages (ranging from 0.5 to 15 percent) based on the
type of swap or SBS and the duration of the position. Further, some risk mitigating factors are
considered in the calculation, such as master netting agreements (discounting the amount of
the positions by 60 percent), central clearing, or daily mark-to-market margining requirements
of the swap or SBS positions (discounting amount of the positions by 80 percent).
Hedging or Mitigating Commercial Risk
An entity involved in hedging or mitigating commercial risk qualifies for exclusion, regardless
of whether it is a financial or non-financial entity.22 Such entity would qualify for the exclusion
when its swap or SBS position is “economically appropriate” to the reduction of risks in the
conduct and management of a commercial enterprise, and when such risks arise from a
potential change in the value of assets, liabilities, or services connected with the ordinary
course of business of the enterprise. The Final Rule clarifies that the exclusion is for
positions that hedge “financial” or “balance sheet” risks, and it applies not only to a person’s
own risks, but also to the hedging of the risks of a person’s majority-owned affiliate. Further,
according to the Commissions, “economically appropriate” includes: (1) positions to manage
risk posed by a counterparty’s potential default related to financing provided to a customer in
connection with sale of real property or a good, product or service; (2) positions to manage
default risk posed by a financial counterparty in connection with a separate transaction; and
(3) positions to manage equity or market risk associated with employee compensation plans
or certain business combinations (i.e. mergers), or positions by a bank to manage
counterparty risk in connection with loans made by the bank. The exclusion is not extended
to SBS positions that hedge speculative or trading positions.23
With regard to SBS that are credit derivatives, the Final Rule also provides examples of the
use of CDS to purchase credit protection that, depending on the circumstances, may be
excluded from the first major participant test. These examples include (1) the use of a CDS
to purchase credit protection for the potential default of a customer, supplier, counterparty, or
in connection with loans made by a bank; (2) purchases of credit protection using CDS to
manage the risks associated with securities that a non-financial company holds in a corporate
treasury and that are not held for speculative or trading purposes; or (3) the sale of offsetting
credit protection, if this sale is reasonably necessary to address changes in the amount of
underlying commercial risk hedged by the initial security-based swap position.

9. Certain Exclusions
The major participant definitions exclude swap and SBS positions that are maintained by any
employee benefit plan as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
iii. Second Test for Designating Major Participants
“Substantial Counterparty Exposure”
The second test for defining a major participant encompasses those whose outstanding
swaps and SBS can create substantial counterparty exposure which could have adverse
effects in the U.S. financial stability. Unlike the first test described above, this test is not
limited to positions in a single category and does not include certain exclusions for hedging
positions. Under this test, a person’s swap positions pose substantial counterparty exposure
if such positions present a daily average current uncollateralized exposure of $5 billion or
more, or present a daily average uncollateralized exposure plus potential future exposure of
$8 billion or more. With respect to SBS positions, the person’s positions pose substantial
counterparty exposure if those positions present a daily average current uncollateralized
exposure of $2 billion or more, or present a daily average current uncollateralized exposure
plus potential future exposure of $4 billion or more. These thresholds are higher than those
included in the first test.24
The calculation for substantial counterparty exposures would be the same as that done under
the first test. However, the substantial counterparty exposure analysis would consider all of
the person’s swap or SBS positions rather than solely considering positions in a particular
major category.
iv. Third Test for Designating Major Participants
Highly Leveraged and Financial Entity
Under the third test, a person falls under the definition of major participant if he: (1) is a
financial entity; (2) is highly leveraged relative to the amount of capital it holds; and (3)
maintains a substantial position in any major category of swaps or SBS. The third test does
not include positions that hedge commercial risk or ERISA risks. Further, the third test
defines “financial entity” in the same way it is defined under the Title VII exception from
mandatory clearing for end users, but excludes certain centralized hedging and treasury
entities.25
Separately, an entity is identified as “highly leveraged” if its ratio of liabilities to equity
exceeds 12 to 1. The third test does not exclude certain hedging positions because,
according to the Commissions, (1) an entity’s high leverage indicates that an entity poses a
heightened risk of being unable to meet its obligations, and (2) such entity should not be
permitted to exclude hedging positions from the “substantial position” analysis in light of the
counterparty risks those positions pose. Generally, the leverage ratio of a person’s liabilities
to equity is determined in accordance with GAAP and “as of the close of business on the last
business day of the applicable fiscal quarter.”
v. Other Issues
Entities can qualify for the safe harbor provision of the Final Rule when their positions are far
below any threshold for any particular quarter. However, it is important to note that those
entities that will be closer to a particular threshold are not excused from completing the
calculations provided in the Final Rule (or from compliance, if found to be major participants
thereafter).

10. Inter-Affiliate Participants
The Final Rule notes that the major participant definitions do not encompass a person’s
swaps or SBS for which the counterparty is a majority-owned affiliate (not necessarily wholly-
owned). The Commissions explained that this is because they do not believe these swaps or
SBS raise systemic risk or other concerns that the major participant regulation is intended to
address.
Application to Positions of Affiliated Entities or to Guarantees
The Final Rule states that an entity’s swap or SBS positions will be attributed to a guarantor
(or a parent or other affiliate), to the extent that the counterparties to those positions would
have recourse to that other entity in connection with the position. Thus, under the Final Rule,
positions will not be attributed in the absence of recourse. Further, the Commissions clarified
their belief that, “when an insurer guarantees the performance of other parties’ swap or SBS
positions, in an amount that is greater than the applicable major participant thresholds, it
would be appropriate to regulate that entity as a major participant.”26 In explaining the
attribution of an entity’s position to a guarantor, the Commissions noted that they recognized
the complications that could arise from the application of the transaction-focused
requirements applicable to registered major participants. However, despite these
complications, the Commissions stated that entities that become major participants because
of swaps or SBS directly entered into by others, must be responsible for compliance with all
applicable major participant requirements (though they may delegate operational compliance
to entities that directly are party to the transactions). Finally, the Commissions clarified that
such designated entities will not be allowed to delegate compliance duties with entity-level
requirements (i.e. registration and capital).
Application to Managed Accounts
The Final Rule states that the Commissions will not consider the swap or SBS positions of
the client accounts managed by asset managers or investment advisers when determining
whether such managers or investment advisers are major participants. With regard to
beneficial owners of the managed positions, the Final Rule focuses on where the risk
associated with those positions ultimately resides (if the counterparties to a swap or SBS
position within a managed account have recourse only to the assets of that account in the
event of default, then it would not be appropriate to attribute that position to its beneficial
owner). In short, the Final Rule attributes a swap or SBS position when recourse is available.
Requests for Exclusion
The Final Rule states that there is no per se exclusion from the major participant definition for
insurance companies, entities with legacy portfolios, entities already regulated at the state
level (or otherwise), or foreign entities. In explaining their decision, the Commissions stated
that (1) entities with legacy portfolios are not excluded because “the fact that these entities no
longer engage in new swap or security-based swap transactions does not overcome the fact
that entities that are major participants will have portfolios that are quite large and could pose
systemic risk to the U.S. financial system”27 ; (2) insurance companies (or other industries)
are not excluded so as to ensure a more level playing field and avoid unfair competitive
advantages to certain industries; (3) entities already regulated are not excluded because
current regulations do not overlap with the Dodd-Frank Act regulations, which target the risks
posed by major participants (although the Commissions will coordinate regulation if major
participants are already regulated by the SEC and the CFTC); and (4) foreign entities are not
excluded as issues regarding the application of the major participant definition to non-U.S.
entities will be explained in a separate release by the SEC.

11. Separately, in the Cost-Benefit Analysis portion of the Final Rule, the Commissions explain
that entities with legacy portfolios do not have to worry about new margin or capital
requirements leading to their insolvency because the Commissions will examine the
treatment of legacy portfolios on a case-by-case basis and because many of the compliance
requirements of the Final Rule will not apply to operators of legacy portfolios given that “such
obligations will not be applicable to swaps executed prior to the enactment of the Dodd-Frank
Act such as the swaps in legacy portfolios”28 (most of their obligations will relate only to
reporting and risk management).
Financing Subsidiary Exclusion
The Final Rule provides exclusion to those captive finance companies whose “primary
business” is financing and who use swaps for the purpose of hedging underlying commercial
risks related to interest rate and foreign currency exposures. The Final Rule’s captive finance
exception can be applied when the financing activity is for the purchase of products sold by
the parent in areas related to the products.
Safe Harbor
Under the Final Rule, only a limited number of entities will be deemed to be major
participants. However, for purposes of calculation, for those entities that are at the edge of
the major participant definition, the Final Rule includes a safe harbor provision. The safe
harbor provision states that a person will not be a major participant when the express terms
of the persons’ arrangements regarding swaps and SBS would not permit the person to
maintain a total uncollateralized exposure above $100 million to all such counterparties or the
person does not maintain notional swap or SBS positions for more than $2 billion in any
major category of swaps or SBS or more than $4 billion in aggregate.
Additionally, a person will not be a major participant when the express terms of person’s
arrangements regarding swaps and SBS would not permit the person to maintain a total
uncollateralized exposure of more than $200 million to all such counterparties or a person
performs the major participant calculations as of the end of every month, “and the results of
each of those monthly calculations indicate that the person’s swap or SBS positions lead to
no more than one-half of the level of current exposure plus potential future exposure that
would cause the person to be a major participant.”29
Finally, a person will not be a major participant when the person’s current uncollateralized
exposure in connection with a major category of swaps or SBS “is less than $500 million and
the person performs certain modified major participant calculations at of the end of every
month, and the results of each of those monthly calculations indicate that the person’s swap
or SBS positions in each major category of swaps or SBS are less than one-half of the
substantial position threshold.”30
Limited Major Participant
Under the Final Rule, a person may apply for a limited designation at the time they submit a
registration application, or later.
This Alert provides only general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. This Alert may also be considered
attorney advertising under court and bar rules in certain jurisdictions.
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12. 1
See Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010) [hereinafter Dodd-
Frank Act] (adding Section 1a(49) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), 7 U.S.C. 1a(49), to define “swap dealer”) and section
761 of the Dodd-Frank Act (adding Section 3(a)(71) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C 78c(a)(71), to define “SBS dealer”).
2
See CEA section 1a(49)(C), 7 U.S.C. 1a(49)(C); Exchange Act section 3(a)(71)(C) , 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(71)(C).
3
See CEA section 1a(49)(D), 7 U.S.C. 1a(49)(D); Exchange Act section 3(a)(71)(D) , 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(71)(D).
4
See CEA section 1a(49)(A), 7 U.S.C. 1a(49)(A). The rule also excludes from the determination of whether a person is a swap
dealer swaps between majority owned affiliates, swaps entered into by a cooperative with its members, swaps entered into for
hedging physical positions as defined in the rule, and certain swaps entered into by registered floor traders.
5
The Commissions noted that they recognize that the dealer-trader distinction must be adapted to apply to SBS activities in light
of the differences between the “dealer” and “security-based swap dealer” definitions, including: 1) the level of activity with regard
to SBS markets compared to markets involving certain other types of securities; 2) the lack of a separate issuer other than each
counterparty to a SBS; 3) the predominance of over-the-counter and non-standardized instruments in the SBS market; and 4) the
mutuality of obligations for parties to a SBS.
6
In this context, the term “routinely” means that a person must do so more frequently than occasionally, but there is no
requirement that the person do so continuously. A person that occasionally, or less than routinely, enters into a swap at the
request of a counterparty is not a maker of a market in swaps, and therefore is not a swap dealer on that basis. The Commission
notes, however, that since many types of swaps are not entered into on a continuous basis, it is not necessary that a person enter
into swaps at the request or demand of counterparties on a continuous basis in order for the person to be a market maker in
swaps and a swap dealer.
7
See CEA section 1a(49)(C), 7 U.S.C. 1a(49)(C); Exchange Act section 3(a)(71)(C) , 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(71)(C).
8
For example, the Commissions clarify that the de minimis exception is intended to permit an unregistered person to engage in a
limited amount of dealing activity without regard to the person’s non-dealing activity and, therefore, if a particular swap or SBS
position is not connected to dealing activity, it will not count against the de minimis threshold.
9
The Commissions state that the notional standards will be based on “effective notional” amounts when the stated notional
amount is leveraged or enhanced by the structure of the swap or SBS.
10
See CEA section 1a(47) and Exchange Act section 3(a)(68).
11
As discussed in further detail below, until the rules defining the term SBS are effective, no market participant would be deemed
to be a SBS dealer.
12
The Commissions note that the analysis of de minimis levels must be based on effective notional amounts to the extent that the
stated notional amount is leveraged or enhanced by the structure of the SBS, such as, for example, if the exchange of payments
associated with an equity swap was based on a multiple of the return associated with the underlying equity. See Exchange Act
rule 3a71-2(a)(3).
13
Exchange Act rule 3a71-2(a)(2)(iii) states that “the term ‘data collection initiation date’ shall mean the date that is the later of:
the last compliance date for the registration and regulatory requirements for SBS dealers and major SBS participants under
Section 15F of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o-10); or the first date on which compliance with the trade-by-trade reporting rules for credit-
related and equity-related SBS to a registered SBS data repository is required. The Commission shall announce the data
collection initiation date on the Commission website and publish such date in the Federal Register.”
14
The Commissions state that in this context, “special entity” means: (i) a Federal agency; (ii) a state, state agency, city, county,
municipality, or other political subdivision of a state; (iii) any employee benefit plan, as defined in section 3 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); (iv) any governmental plan, as defined in section 3 of ERISA; or (v) any
endowment, including an endowment that is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
See CEA section 4s(h)(2)(C) and CFTC Regulation § 23.401(c); Exchange Act section 15F(h)(2)(C).
15
CFTC, Final Rule on Swap Data Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, 77 Fed. Reg. 2,136 (Jan. 13, 2012).
16
The Final Rule provides that the CFTC may change the requirements of the de minimis exception by rule or regulation. The
CFTC may, therefore, revisit the rule implementing the exception and potentially change it, for example, if data regarding the
post-implementation swap market suggests that different de minimis thresholds would be appropriate.
17
The Commissions note that this should ensure that persons do not rapidly move in and out of dealer status based on short-term
fluctuations in their swap or SBS activities.
18
See CFTC Regulation § 1.3(hhh)(4); Exchange Act rule 3a67-8(b) (providing for a reevaluation period in connection with the
major participant definitions when a person does not exceed any applicable threshold by more than 20 percent in a calendar
quarter).
19
Future exposure would be discounted by up to 60 percent to reflect the risk mitigation provided by netting agreements, and
would further be decreased by 80 percent for positions subject to central clearing or daily mark-to-market margining.
20
Cleared, fully collateralized, or net in-the-money positions are not excluded from the current exposure test.
21
The allocation compares the amount of the entity’s out-of-the-money positions in that major category to its total out-of-the-
money positions in all categories that are subject to the netting agreements wit that particular counterparty.
22
See Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 17 CFR 1, RIN 3038-AD06; Securities and Exchange Commission, 17 CFR 240,
RIN 3235-AK65, pp. 305-06 (Apr. 27, 2012) [hereinafter Final Rule] (stating that “the final rules with regard to both major
participant definitions do not foreclose financial entities from being able to take advantage of the commercial risk hedging
exclusion in the first major participant test. This conclusion in part is guided by the fact that the statutory text implementing this
hedging exclusion does not explicitly foreclose financial entities from taking advantage of the exclusion – in contrast to Title VII’s
exceptions from mandatory clearing requirements for commercial hedging activities.”). The Commissions also stated that not
allowing the exclusion to cover swaps or SBS used for speculation or trading will be sufficient to limit financial entities’ ability to
engage in risky transactions.
23
See Id. at p. 318. The Commissions note the difference between speculative or trading positions and hedging by stating that it
would not be appropriate “to interpret the term ‘commercial risk’ to accord the same regulatory treatment to security-based swap
positions for speculative or trading purposes as is accorded to the use of SBS positions in connection with commercial activities
such as producing goods or providing services to customers.” Final Rule, p. 320.
24
This reflects the fact that the second test includes the 4 major categories of swaps or 2 categories of SBS, and that hedging
positions are not excluded.
25
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act defines a financial entity as: “a swap dealer; a SBS dealer; a major swap participant; a major
SBS participant; a commodity pool; a private fund as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.

13. 80–b–2(a)); an employee benefit plan as defined in paragraphs (3) and (32) of section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002); a person predominantly engaged in activities that are in the business of banking, or in
activities that are financial in nature, as defined in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.” See Dodd-Frank Act.
26
Final Rule, p. 357-58.
27
Id. at p. 367.
28
Id. at p. 465.
29
Id. at p. 380-81.
30
Id.